The Celtics have been a surprise and for the 21st time in team history, the Celtics reach the Finals and are going for banner number 18. The Lakers on the other hand, are going for "Sweet 16" and are now an unprecedented in their 31st Finals appearance (including 6 times as Minneapolis).

Who do I want to win? Boston. Who do I think will win? The Lakers.

Boston has played another level entering into the Finals while LA has played like the defending champions they are.

Kobe is obviously priority number 1 for the Boston defense but LA will have to use and rely on its big men to help them get past the rejuvenated Celtics squad. Also, LA will need to rely on other role players to help them along.

Right now, "The Big 3" of KG, Pierce, and Allen are going strong but now the best player on the Celtics is Rajon Rondo. The guy can score to help his team but also contributes on defense with steals and is the playmaker and catalyst; as Kobe is priority number 1, Rondo should be priority 1 for LA's defense.

The coast to coast rivalry is renewed in a re-match from the 2008 Finals. Boston has played a lot better than its 50-32 record and 4th seed standing in the East while the Lakers have shown why they the defending champs with daggers to the heart time in and time out in the rugged Western Conference playoffs. This should be a good series and it should be a pretty close series. Prediction...Lakers in 7.

I am so fucking happy that the Lakers and Celtics are back in the finals again! What an epic matchup and totally fresh and new! No matter who wins, they would have earned a historic victory! The NBA: Where Parity Happens!

I'm a Knicks fan, so I'm probably not supposed to want the Celtics to win, but I like Garnett, Rondo, Sheed and of course Nate and I don't like any Lakers other than Gasol. If the Celtics can stay healthy and play tough I really like their chances, but I can also see them totally getting rolled in 5.

There's a lot of interesting matchups in this one. The Celtics are deeper and I say they steal one of the first two and win the whole thing in six games.

As a former Lakers' fan, I say the Lakers in 6, but I do agree with the sentiment of been there done that. I hope its better then the last time. I am wondering if LeBron's signing will happen when it looks like the series is over ala A-Rod.

Originally posted by lotjxAs a former Lakers' fan, I say the Lakers in 6, but I do agree with the sentiment of been there done that. I hope its better then the last time. I am wondering if LeBron's signing will happen when it looks like the series is over ala A-Rod.

By rule teams can't talk to LeBron until after midnight July 1st, and he cant' sign until July 8th. A-Rod opted out of his contract late in Game 4 of the Red Sox sweep of the Rockies.Celtics in 5, as Kobe is completely thrown off his game after finding out prior to Game 4 that Sasha Vujacic has been carrying on a torrid affair with Kobe's father.

Knowing the Lakers, they'll go in and severely underestimate just how much better Rondo has become. He's going to absolutely DESTROY Fisher and you can't stick Kobe or Artest on him, because they'll need every bit of their defensive talent to try and contain Pierce and Allen. I don't expect the ever-brittle Bynum to do too well defending KG and Perkins and Gasol has that annoying tendency to play softer than a sponge whenever he's playing against Boston.

This was the worst possible matchup the Lakers could have faced. Boston wins in 5.

Great start to the series. Now you'll be hearing the amazing undefeated Phil stat for the rest of the series. Boston actually has the best chance of any team to give Phil his first series loss after taking the first game.

Nice of Kobe to clinch tacos for the crowd with that buzzer-beater in the 4th.

The Celtics, based on last night, are now giving the defending champions a true test to these playoffs.

Rondo joined a list of 2 other hall of famers (Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and future hall of famer Jason Kidd) to score at least 300 points, grab 100+ rebounds and dish out at least 180 assists in one postseason. Rajon Rondo has solidified himself quickly as a prime postseason player.

Both teams have a lot of weapons but Rondo and the sharp-shooting Allen (NBA Final record 8 treys last night) are the 2 main keys if they are to knock off the defending NBA champions and some assistance from Paul Pierce wouldn't hurt.

Originally posted by The GameThe Celtics, based on last night, are now giving the defending champions a true test to these playoffs.

Rondo joined a list of 2 other hall of famers (Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, and future hall of famer Jason Kidd) to score at least 300 points, grab 100+ rebounds and dish out at least 180 assists in one postseason. Rajon Rondo has solidified himself quickly as a prime postseason player.

Both teams have a lot of weapons but Rondo and the sharp-shooting Allen (NBA Final record 8 treys last night) are the 2 main keys if they are to knock off the defending NBA champions and some assistance from Paul Pierce wouldn't hurt.

Are you some kinda journalist? All your posts read like the second coming of Tom Vejada.

Considering I was compared to a journalist, I will take that as a compliment. And to answer definitively to your question, I am not a journalist, I just know my history of the NBA quite well and whenever I can, I like to add new stats and figures (thanks in partial to watching some ESPN) to the basketball conversation.

As a Celtics supporter, I'm not convinced by the Sunday win. It took a record performance by Ray Allen to keep them in the game, and Pierce and Garnett were awfully quiet throughout. But I am loving Big Baby. That kid wants to play.

Originally posted by Matt TrackerAs a Celtics supporter, I'm not convinced by the Sunday win. It took a record performance by Ray Allen to keep them in the game, and Pierce and Garnett were awfully quiet throughout. But I am loving Big Baby. That kid wants to play.

I'm watching tonight, and I'm rooting for the home team. Nervously.

I'm pretty much in the same boat, expect for that last part about the home team

I still say LAKERS IN SIX OR SEVEN, but I would have preferred not to have split the first 2 games. The Celtics are a dangerous dangerous team. For me to get any sleep this weekend, we're gonna need to win 2 of the next 3 (preferably starting with game 3).

I just saw this interesting stat: in the Finals, when the teams are tied 1-1 after two games, the winner of game 3 has won the series 28/32 times. Since 1985, when they changed to the current 2-3-2 format (as opposed to the old 2-2-1-1-1 format), the winner is 10-0.